Chapter 10
Rachel sighed and let Brittany tug her along, Puck's arm protectively around her shoulders while Brittany kept one hand. She wasn't even sure if she could look at Quinn, Finn's supposed girlfriend, who was another victim of this stupidity. The blonde cheerleader didn't like her much to begin with, and now Finn had tried to cheat on Quinn by kissing Rachel. Such was the stuff of which epic feuds were made.
"Berry, head in the game," Sue's voice barked at her and Rachel jerked and met the coach's eyes.
"Sorry Coach Sylvester," She offered a half smile, "I was just thinking Quinn really doesn't deserve any of this."
"Nobody does," Sue replied shortly with a glare at Finn where he was bringing up the rear with Mike Chang's firm escort. Rachel was vividly aware of Sue holding the door and closing it firmly behind Finn as they all filed into Figgin's office.
Rachel was, unfortunately, right before Figgin's desk and the principal looked at her with a bemused frown, "Ms. Berry," He greeted her, "Not that your presence is not a pleasure, but to whom do I owe it?" He inquired in the elegant Indian accent she found so endearing in the little man. He'd been very kind about letting her test and transfer out of classes when she'd learned all she could.
"This is a glee club matter and Sue has put her nose in again," Mr. Schuester pushed his way to the front of the group and Rachel offered the principal a smile and stepped backwards to allow Coach Sue and Mr. Schuester speak to their boss.
"Sue, have you been interfering with the glee club again?" Principal Figgins sounded both annoyed and resigned, "Have I not asked you to allow William to run his club without your input?"
"I said nothing about the running of his club," Sue shook her head. "Brittany and I came into the choir room and saw Finn Hudson assaulting Rachel Berry."
"I wasn't—" Finn burst out.
Sue cut him off with a sharp look, her disdain like ice in the air, "She was crying out repeatedly for you to stop what you were doing, you had such a hold on her arms she could hardly move and she was struggling to get away. I call that assault." She sneered slightly, "Maybe William considers that to be the epitome of romance but when a girl is only sixteen and an eighteen year old boy is harassing her it's immoral and illegal."
"How is it illegal for me to kiss her if she's dating Puck?" Finn retorted sullenly.
"Noah Puckerman is only seventeen years old Mr. Hudson," Principal Figgins said sternly and beckoned the boy forward. "Now please tell me what happened in your own words." He looked past Finn's gangly figure at Rachel and the other kids, "Miss Berry will have her turn in a moment. But first what are the rest of these children doing in my office Sue?"
Rachel found it amusing that the principal immediately and correctly assumed the additional students were in his office at Sue's behest. The cheerleading Coach explained that while she and Brittany had been first in the choir room, Puck had been immediately behind them with Sam and Mike on his heels. All of them had seen what occurred.
"I would ask that the witnesses please leave the office until Finn and Rachel have spoken then, and then please come in and tell me what you saw individually," Figgins instructed. "There are seats in the secretary's office for this purpose." Rachel could feel Puck stiffen and knew he was going to refuse before he even spoke.
"Mr. Figgins, don' wanna tell ya your business, but I don' wanna leave Rae," He argued. "Won't say a word 'til you ask me ta talk but…" He shook his head.
"Noah," Figgin's voice softened slightly, "I'm afraid this time I cannot make an exception. One ally per student, as it were."
Rachel took a deep breath and let Brittany's hand slip from her grasp as the girl left. Turning in Puck's embrace she looked up and touched his cheek gently, "Put some ice on your jaw," She suggested softly. "And give me a little kiss. That'll keep me going." She tilted her head and offered him a little smile, "I'll feel better if I know you're taking care of yourself Noah."
"All right Rae," Puck nodded and drew her back towards the door, bending to give her a delicate, burning kiss before he visibly forced himself out the door.
Rachel took nodded when he pointed at the chair where he'd be sitting and turned to face the principal again, "Thank you sir." She moved to stand next to Sue and folded her hands in front of her to wait her turn to speak. When Finn began to tell his tale remaining silent turned out to be the hardest thing she'd ever done. According to Finn she'd been touching him and teasing him all through the tutoring session and she'd approached him asking if he wanted some help with breathing. He'd been reluctant but had agreed when Mr. Schuester suggested that every little bit would help when it came to competitions. Finn's version of what had happened had her as the aggressor right up until he'd finally kissed her and it had only been when she'd heard someone in the hallway that she'd started to object at all. He'd been so startled that he hadn't understood at first.
"What an interesting narrative of events," Sue's voice was dry and Rachel looked up at her. She'd seen Sue annoyed at Cheerios practice and irate from time to time, but she'd never seen the coach this angry.
"Miss Berry, would you please tell me what occurred from your own perspective?" Principal Figgins had an excellent poker face, Rachel observed dispassionately. She couldn't tell if he believed Finn or not.
Reminding herself that this was not a performance and histrionics would not be appreciated, Rachel began quietly, "I have to start back a little bit, to explain why I was teaching Finn," She told the principal. Giving Figgins some background as to what had been going on in Glee and her conversation with Mr. Schuester regarding breathing exercises and vocal warm ups and how she'd been told she should teach Finn if she wanted any chance at a solo. Her voice hardened a little in outrage at the memory and she took a deep breath to calm herself before she continued. Describing how she'd propped the door open and how Finn had closed it and how close he'd sat to her before she'd told him to stand she gave the principal a good idea of how the lesson had progressed.
When she began to repeat the conversation she'd had with Finn regarding her looks and dating habits the boy objected again and was quickly silenced with a look from the principal. Finally she got to how Finn had kissed her and how she had reacted, her attempts to stop him and finally her futile attempts to get away.
"I wasn't holding you that hard," Finn argued once again interrupting.
Rachel rolled her eyes and continued, explaining that Finn had been yanked off of her and someone had kept her from falling backwards and gotten her away from the piano. "And he was holding me very tightly," She refuted. "I can feel the bruises forming. I'll have to wear longer sleeves and I certainly won't be able to let Noah or Sam see them."
"Can you explain the 'touching' Mr. Hudson insists you did?" Principal Figgins asked mildly.
Rachel frowned and shook her head, "In order to breathe properly for singing, you have to breathe from the diaphragm, Finn wasn't. I demonstrated where the lower ribs are on my own body, and when he took another deep breath I poked him," She looked up at Sue Sylvester, "I beg your pardon Coach, may I?"
"Just don't break my ribs Berry," Was all the coach told her.
"Deep breath," Rachel murmured and as Sue did so, Rachel gently prodded her lower ribs with her forefinger. "That's what I did to Finn. It's not something that could be construed as romantic." She shook her head. "Touching him would have been inappropriate, so whenever I needed to show him something I would demonstrate it myself."
"I see," Figgins regarded her thoughtfully and gestured at her arms. "Without allowing Mr. Evans or Mr. Puckerman to view them, would you please show me the bruises?"
Rachel cast a wary glance backwards and stepped slightly in front of Sue so Puck couldn't see before she lifted her sleeves to show the angry red marks on her skin. "I'll be black and blue tomorrow," She said quietly. "I've had a lot of experience with bruising with all the dancing I do, I've gotten very accurate at estimating how bad something will be."
"Tomorrow you will go to the school nurse and have her take some photographic evidence of the bruising," Figgins told her the command mild but still a command.
"Yes sir," Rachel nodded.
"Both of you please take a seat and Sue will you ask one of the other children to come in please," Figgins directed, "Perhaps Mr. Evans or Mr. Puckerman, neither seem to be enjoying the stint outside this room."
Rachel watched and listened as her brother and the three glee club members described what they'd seen and what they'd done upon entering the choir room. All of them agreed that Rachel had been telling Finn to stop. No one seemed to think the embrace had been consensual and Mike Chang had the presence of mind to add what Finn had said to Puck afterwards. Rachel found herself flushing with distaste at the thought of being regarded as nothing more than a toy to take away from a rival.
"In light of Miss Berry's description of the events and what the other children have told me occurred I believe that Mr. Hudson should serve at week's detention as well as a five day suspension," Principal Figgins said quietly.
"You can't—" Finn objected angrily while Mr. Schuester added his own arguments.
"You've known Finn Hudson for four years Mr. Figgins," Schuester responded. "You've known Rachel Berry for less than three months. But you believe her?"
"I believe the evidence of my eyes, and the dispassionate recollection of the events," Figgins replied calmly. "You are aware of your students backgrounds, both of them?"
"Rachel hasn't exactly been a team player or even shown herself to get along well with her classmates since she's been at this school," Mr. Schuester argued. "Finn's a good kid, a capable leader, who's done nothing but good things for the glee club."
"Except abandon them right before Sectionals two years ago when he attacked another member of the club," Sue interjected. "He chose football over being in the glee club that same year. The next year he cheated on his girlfriend with a girl dating another boy."
"Leaving Mr. Hudson's personal history aside, what do you know about Rachel Berry?" Principal Figgins asked the choir director.
"She has a good voice," Mr. Schuester conceded and Rachel scowled furiously at the mediocre description. "But she's always putting herself forward, interrupting and asking questions. She doesn't contribute and she hasn't brought anyone else into the club. She acts like a diva but she doesn't live up to the potential of that title. If we didn't need a twelfth member she wouldn't be worth the trouble. She's a foster child, and she's made no effort to fit in at the school." Rachel folded her arms and pressed them against her stomach to keep from giving Schuester a true diva rant.
"Sue, what do you know about Rachel Berry?" Figgins regarded his championship cheerleading coach thoughtfully.
"She has a background in dance and theatre, from Chicago, and she doesn't talk about it much," Sue cast a sarcastic glance down at Rachel in a silent reprimand. Sue hadn't missed that Rachel had nearly lost her temper. "She picks up dance steps very quickly and I offered her a job as choreographer for the Cheerios. Rachel's been a big help with the routines and even offered to spend some of her free time teaching the younger girls basic steps so they'd be ready for the varsity squad. She's good friends with Brittany and in spite of the Cheerios and the jocks slushying her she's polite to everyone. She's extremely intelligent and tested out of several classes. She skipped a year of school already so she's a year younger than the rest of the people in her class just like Noah Puckerman."
"From the look you gave Miss Berry I suspect you know more about her background," Figgins gave the coach a shrewd look.
"I googled her," Sue shrugged. "Interesting stuff comes up with her name," Rachel sighed and Sue gave her a sharp glance. "I know why you did it Berry but sometimes it just isn't worth it."
"What does this have to do with anything?" Mr. Schuester was doing his own version of a diva rant. "Finn didn't do anything that's worth suspension."
Figgins withdrew a file from his desk, "I keep certain student files here because they contain sensitive information," He said quietly. "I have Rachel Berry's file, it was transferred her from her last school." Rachel took a deep breath and prayed Mr. Figgins wouldn't say anything about her last school. Her hope was in vain. "Rachel Berry has a near perfect GPA. I imagine the photographic memory helps with that," He glanced at Rachel and closed the file when he saw what she imagined was an unbecomingly anxious look. "I will say that there is a great deal Rachel chose not to disclose regarding her previous schools. None of it is negative in nature regardless of the stigma associated with foster children." He addressed Rachel directly, "Deception rarely serves for the greater good Miss Berry. I would think long and hard regarding the nature of yours and whether or not you should tell everyone the truth, regardless of how foolish it makes them feel. In the long run, everyone will be better off."
"Yes sir," Rachel nodded and sighed, "And the rest of it? My dads took me out of my last school…mostly because of all the pressure. They wanted me to have a normal year."
"Understandable given your background and talents," Figgins nodded. "That is why your file is kept in my desk."
"Thank you sir," Rachel heaved a sigh of relief and the principal chuckled.
Shaking his head Figgin's avuncular expression dropped like a stone as he regarded Finn and Mr. Schuester, "Mr. Hudson's punishment stands. And you William, would do well to treat everyone in your glee club equally. To ensure that you do so, since this blatant preference of several 'special' students has not gone unnoticed by anyone, I am appointing Sue as your co-director. She and a neutral party, perhaps Coach Beiste, will serve along with you, in judging who receives solos and in determining song choices."
"Sir! Sue has been trying to destroy the glee club since it was founded," Rachel looked up at her coach when she heard Mr. Schuester say that. Sue just winked at her and Rachel rolled her eyes.
"William I despise bullying almost as much as I despise the elves in your overly permed and styled hair and I will not allow you to oppress my students in the guise of 'teamwork'," Sue retorted. "I've heard all about your lack of interest in input from anyone but your personally favorite members and I'm here to put an end to it. Now I believe we've wasted enough rehearsal time and certainly enough of Mr. Figgin's time."
"There's no point in rehearsing if Finn's suspended," Mr. Schuester had a hint of smugness in his voice. "If he's not allowed to take part we don't have enough people to compete in Sectionals and that's at the end of the two weeks. If he's in detention he can't rehearse; if he's suspended he's not allowed on school grounds."
"Sam offered to sing if we needed a warm body," Rachel murmured quietly. "He has a good voice."
"He's fine, but he's not Finn," Mr. Schuester told her with barely concealed impatience.
"Finn isn't Finn," Rachel lost her temper. "You act as if he's Enrico Caruso, he's not even Wayne Newton. Noah and Artie sing five times better than he does. Blaine is amazing and Mike has a good strong voice. Finn isn't the only potential for a male lead in glee. He's just the one you like best."
"That's enough," The choir director snapped. "I don't need your opinion on how to run my club."
"It's not your club Mr. Schuester," Rachel retorted angrily, "It's ours. You're our director, you're supposed to make us better, teach us, but all you do is distribute solo's like largesse and ignore anyone who doesn't fit your definition of cool."
"All right Berry," Coach Sue put a hand on her shoulder. "Get your boyfriend and tell him get everyone back to the choir room. William and I will be there in a minute. And tell your brother he'd better be able to sing."
Rachel frowned but did as she was bade walking gracefully out of Figgins office and straight to Puck with a wince as his hands came up to grasp her arms and shoulders. "Coach Sue wants us all back in the choir room," She explained.
"He put bruises on you didn't he," Sam's voice was low and angry. "Daddy's gonna kill him."
"Hopefully not," Rachel sighed. "C'mon. Sam we're gonna need your voice, Sectionals are soon and Finn's suspended for a week and in detention another week."
Rachel sat beside Puck and listened as Coach Sue explained what Figgin's decision had been. Mr. Schuester was almost pouting but there was a certain amount of excitement over the idea that solos would be distributed based on talent and merit rather than favoritism. "Now I'm told that you've been working on an assignment and that today you were supposed to perform. We've already lost enough time thanks to Mr. Hudson's idiocy so let's get to it."
"The assignment was fairy tales," Mr. Schuester reminded them, "So who wants to be the lucky number one?"
"Well, Puck helped me work something out," Artie grinned as he rolled his chair forward. "So I'll go first."
Rachel grinned and giggled when Artie began a half rap half sung version of 'A Whole New World' and when he was finished couldn't stop her applause. Sam added his appreciation from beside her, "That was awesome dude."
"I don't suppose you have anything you'd like to sing Sam?" Mr. Schuester was clearly not pleased and the acidic tone of his voice let everyone know.
"Shit, 'tween my sibs an' Rae I know almost every fuckin' Disney tune there is," Sam rolled his eyes. "If Rae'll indulge me though, got something I can sing."
"Oh, the duet?" Rachel grinned, "You're sure?"
"Hey I'm not the badass like your boyfriend," Sam laughed as he stood up and went for a guitar. "I can sing sensitive shit you know."
"Oh how I know," Rachel shook her head as she went to the piano. Brad smiled and leaned back against the wall near Sue who was watching it all curiously.
"So I used to watch this movie with my little brother and sister all the time. And now whenever we see them, Rae and me sing it for them, so they know we're always thinking of them and we'll be together soon," Sam explained. "It's kind of our American fairy tale." He looked at Rachel and nodded for her to begin the notes of the piano and began to sing,
"Somewhere out there
Beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me
And loving me tonight,"
Rachel took the second verse, wanting to impress Coach Sue; this was the first time the cheerleading coach had heard her sing,
"Somewhere out there
Someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another
In that big somewhere out there,"
Sam's voice took over again, painful as he remembered being separated from his brother and sister,
"And even though I know
How very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star,"
Rachel's voice nearly caught as she took the next verse, it got harder and harder to say good bye,
"And when the night wind
Starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping
Underneath the same big sky…"
Sam began the chorus and Rachel joined him on the second line, their voices blending with practice and love, knowing each other so well their voices melted together.
"Somewhere out there
If love can see us through
Then we'll be together
Somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true..."
They looked at each other and nodded, deciding to simply end the song there rather than repeat the last two verses and chorus again.
"Wow," Mike blinked and shook his head. "You two have been singing that for a while I guess," He commented.
"Since I came to live with Rae when she was twelve," Sam said easily and hung the guitar back on the wall. "Always liked music, but Rae like lives and breathes it."
"Speaking of living and breathing," Rachel got up from the piano, "Who's next?"
"I have something, it's from Cinderella," Tina offered quietly. "I always liked this one, so Brittany and I have worked on it as a round, like they have it in the movie," She shrugged, "It works better with a third but nobody wanted to work with us."
"Nightingale?" Sue smiled slightly, "My sister likes that song too."
"I know it," Quinn raised her hand. "I can take the third part if you like. I'm not up for singing my romantic 'Someday My Prince Will Come' after," She shrugged, "Well I'm not up for singing it."
"Cool," Brittany grinned at her and the three girls moved into the performance space. "But we never got Brad to practice with us," She remembered. "Rachel, do you know it?"
Sam snorted, "The day Rae doesn't know a Disney song is the day she's been struck deaf."
"I do," Rachel ignored her brother as only a little sister could. "I'll give you the bare notes, your voices won't need much accompaniment." She grinned as Brad stood up again, "Thanks." She was right, Tina, Quinn and Brittany were wonderful together, even with Quinn as a last minute addition their voices blended well. The applause the girls garnered was enthusiastic and genuine.
"Rae you're at the piano, you may as well go next," Puck teased her. "You know you don't ever make Brad learn the music less you gotta dance."
"You know me far too well," Rachel grinned at him. "This song seemed appropriate to me lately. Since we moved here it seems like very few people hear me. I've been accused of living in my head more than once. And I always thought of this as a fairy tale song, not because of the movie it comes from but because of the content. After all, what are fairy tales but dreams?" She began to play and Sam grinned and nudged Puck when he heard a familiar tune. When she began to sing her voice was hopeful and mournful at the same time,
"I lose my way
No one cares
The words I say
No one hears
My life it seems is a world of dreams,"
Rachel let her gaze fall on Puck and hoped he knew that he was one of the few she believed listened to her, and more importantly heard what she said. She wanted him to be around when her dreams come true. She was starting to believe that without him any dream would ring hollow,
"Deep in the night
You'll find me
Dream and you're right behind me
Stay...if you will stay
We'll dream the night away,"
The chorus was plaintive, but hopeful again,
"Dreams to dream
In the dark of the night
When the world goes wrong
I can still make it right
I can see so far in my dreams
I'll follow my dreams until they come true,"
Now she put belief into her music, wistful but firm still, knowing there was a star out there with her name on it.
"There is a star
Waiting to guide us
Shining inside us
When we close our eyes…"
She sang directly to him now, everything in her wanting him to share her dreams, wanting him to believe as much as she did. It was as clear an invitation as she could give without speaking bluntly,
"Come with me
You will see what I mean
There's a world inside
No one else ever sees
You will go so far in my dreams
Somewhere in my dreams
Your dreams will come true,"
She looked down at the piano keys, almost afraid of what Puck might read in her eyes, his hazel gaze was near green with emotion, hot and bright with something dangerously close to affection. Rachel knew she was looking at him as if he was the only man in the world, and for her he might as well be. She was head over heels for this wonderful, rude, uncouth, barbaric and sweetly kind boy. The last verse was the hardest to sing, to keep looking at him, to know he'd see she meant every word...
"Don't let go
If you stay close to me
In my dreams tonight
You will see what I see
Dreams to dream
As near as can be
Inside you and me
Will always come true
Inside you and me
That always come true..."
She took a deep breath and played the last lingering notes before removing her hands from the piano keys.
Puck had to take several deep breaths before he started clapping. Every time he heard Rachel sing he thought she couldn't get better, couldn't possibly move him anymore. And then she'd sing again and it was like a punch in the gut realizing that she was singing for him. It made him even more glad he'd worked so hard on his own song.
When the applause finally died away Rachel stood at the piano and gave them a little curtsey before she sat next to him. He couldn't stand it, "Damn Rae," Puck muttered. "You know I'll follow you anywhere right?"
He was glad he'd said it as Rachel's eyes lit up and the smile she gave him was blinding, "I hope you know…I really do believe you can do anything Noah." She told him softly.
"Yeah, I'm slowly gettin' that," Puck grinned at her and gave her a quick kiss as Mr. Schuester called for someone else to sing. So he sat through Blaine singing and Mike and Kurt and then Mercedes. Finally Santana stood in front of them, nervous in front of Sue and nodded at Brad. The music that started was familiar but the way Santana sang wasn't. Her range wasn't as good as Rachel's but her voice had a smoky quality to it, like a torch singer in a nightclub. And Rapunzel's song about waiting for her life to begin had never seemed more poignant.
Rachel beside him began clapping furiously when Santana was done, appreciation and enthusiasm in every line of her body.
"Puck, you're up," Mr. Schuester nodded at him and Puck chuckled. Scheuster's panties were still in a wad because his golden boy was out. And Puck planned to show him Finn wasn't the only one who could sing a solo.
"All right," Puck grinned as he stood. He knew Schuester thought he wanted to go last because he didn't have anything prepared. He grabbed the old acoustic guitar off the wall and dropped the strap over his head. "So I guess you all thought I wouldn't know any fairy tale songs," He chuckled. "But I got a little sister and man, I am Disney'd out. Like, totally." That got a little ripple of laughter, "Sides, to me, fairy tales ain't all happy endings. Some of 'em were scarier'n shit." He shook his head, "So I wanted a story that was new, that didn't have alla that negative background, I mean Sleepin' Beauty? You know in the original story she'd been impregnated and she woke up when the baby started nursing? That's some creepy shit right there."
"Your point Puck?" Mr. Schuester's voice was testy, "Fascinating as this is."
"I'm gettin' there," Puck shook his head, "An' people call me impatient." He blinked as if thinking, something he knew made Rachel giggle every time he did it and winked at her, "Oh yeah, so this is for Rachel, and it's from the fairy tale with miracles, sword fights, pirates, True Love, villains and of course…the happy ending." He began to pluck out the rippling notes on the guitar loving how this song began and smiled directly at Rachel, "Just so you know Rae, I mean every fuckin' word."
"Puckerman, what song is it?" Coach Sue asked with a tilt of her head.
"Oh, sorry," Puck shrugged at the Coach, "It's Storybook Love, from The Princess Bride." He continued to pluck out the opening and then it was time for him to actually sing, and he couldn't help looking at Rachel again,
"Come my love, I'll tell you a tale
Of a boy and girl and their love story
And how he loved her oh so much
And all the charms she did possess…
Now this did happen Once upon a time
When things were not so complex
And how he worshipped the ground she walked
And when he looked in her eyes he became obsessed…"
Puck smiled slightly as he strummed the notes that began the chorus, Rachel never believed in her own beauty, she believed in her talent, but what made her his girl, what made her so wonderful was the type of person she was. She never understood he wasn't with her because she was talented, he was with her because he couldn't not be.
"My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel
My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel
It's as real as the feelings I feel."
He moved closer to Rachel, glad she was in the front row and sang to her as she looked up at him, hoping he was conveying everything he really felt for her,
"This love was stronger than the powers so dark
A prince could have within his keeping
His spells to wreak and steal a heart
Within her breast but only sleeping
My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel
My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel
It's as real as the feelings I feel…"
The next verse he couldn't help it, it was pure theatre but he went down on one knee in front of her,
"He said "Don't you know I love you oh so much
And lay my heart at the foot of your dress?"
She said "Don't you know that storybook loves
Always have a happy ending?"
Then he swept her up just like in the books
And on his stallion they rode away…"
Rachel was staring at him as if he'd done the most amazing thing in the world, and Puck let go of the guitar to sing the last chorus acapella, her hands in his,
"My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel
My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel
It's as real as the feelings I feel…"
He leaned forward slowly and let his voice die away on the last word, pressing the gentlest kiss he could manage to her lips. Puck could feel her smile under his lips and grinned in reply as he leaned back slightly, "So was that romantic?" He asked teasingly.
"Very," Rachel nodded solemnly. "I feel the urge to tear off your clothes it was so romantic."
"Hell yeah," Puck chuckled and kissed her again quickly before Schuester started to give him a hard time. He wasn't wrong, it took all of two seconds after the applause died for the man to start ordering Puck to get back into his seat and pay attention to whatever they'd be doing for Sectionals in two weeks.
Puck sat and waited and kept an eye on Sue who was visibly irate. Sure enough, Schuester got less than five minutes into his speech and the cheerleading coach interrupted. "William while I'm sure everyone would normally be hypnotized by your brillo pad curls and the chemicals emanating from therein, I'm more concerned with what songs the group had decided on for Sectionals and how they were to be performed."
Quinn stuck her hand up at that point and said they were doing a Jackson theme, with Man in the Mirror, ABC and Control, with Finn on most of the male solos. She, Mercedes and Santana had the bulk of the female solos. "But I don't think the same songs will work because…" She cast a cautious look at Mr. Schuester, "Well because the voices have to mesh and…well…"
"Spit it out Q," Sue commanded.
"Quinn's voice went fine with Finn's," Santana said bluntly. "But no way does it go with Puck's, we're gonna hafta rework everything and if we're gonna do that, might as well pick songs we can do better."
"So," Sue regarded the group thoughtfully, "Ideas?"
"Artie, Kurt and Mercedes, with the rest of us as backup, doing 'I'll Be There'," Rachel didn't bother to raise her hand as she spoke. "Artie has a voice similar to Michael Jackson's, Kurt's soprano is gorgeous and Mercedes has the power." She reached into her bag and dragged a leather bound book out, flipping it open to the sound of Sam's groan and Puck's chuckle.
"What's with the sound effects?" Sue moved forward to stand by the piano and folded her arms, "Berry what's the book?"
"Notes," Rachel told her absently flipping through pages, "Songs that I've done arrangements for, choreography…this is my brain book." She looked up at her brother, "Sam hates it because until we moved here he was the only one I'd show it to; now Noah is kind enough to let me discuss my ideas with him."
"So the song you just suggested, you've got choreography for that already?" Blaine leaned forward to look over her shoulder.
"Minimal choreography but yes," Rachel nodded. "Oh, and here, these are the notes I made for Man In the Mirror," She stood and showed Sue, "If we feature Santana more, her voice for female parts and Quinn taking Santana's old part, Tina and Britt supporting her, Puck and Blaine can take over Finn's part." She shrugged, "Sam's good but he hasn't been practicing so a solo isn't really a good idea right now." She looked over at Mr. Schuester whose face was like a thundercloud, "The choreography can be tweaked a bit but it's pretty much set, just some rearranging needed."
"And I suppose you want a solo for the third song," The choir director's voice was acidic and Rachel looked down at her book and closed it before going to sit back in her chair. Puck wrapped his arm around her shoulders protectively and aimed his glare at Schuester. The temptation was to just get up and walk out but he hated the idea of quitting, of letting Schuester drive him away.
"Hey Rachel just handed us routines and parts without us having to argue about it and she's got good reasons for them," Mike spoke up, with Tina nodding beside him. "If she wants a song l say give her one, with her help we might just win Sectionals."
"Mike's right," Artie agreed, "Not everybody here has been all that nice to Rachel but that didn't stop her from giving an honest evaluation of our voices. We've all heard her sing. She's about the only one of us who could practice on her own and come up with something that could help us win, because we're gonna need all our spare time to work on the new parts." He looked around, "Why don't we put it to a vote. All in favor of Rachel taking the third song as a solo? Some help from the rest of us on the chorus if we can? Say 'Aye'."
There was a resounding chorus of ayes and Sue looked around the room with a gimlet eye, "Any naysayers?" When there was silence she nodded, "The ayes have it," She looked at Rachel thoughtfully, "In keeping with the Jackson theme, any ideas?"
"I got one," Sam offered quietly, "Always liked Janet Jackson's 'Again'. Rae's voice would kill on that and Tina and Britt could do that soft chorus work for her. Open with that, go to I'll Be There, and finish with Man in the Mirror." Puck nodded his agreement to that notion, liking the idea of Rachel opening for them.
"So we have a set list and parts assigned," Sue nodded, "Rachel, you, Santana, Mike and Britt, work out the choreography for I'll Be There with the principals involved. Schuester will get the band working on the music."
"Guys, we're gonna have to meet after Cheerios and football practice too," Puck stood to put the guitar away speaking as he walked. "This ain't much time to get everything right. And Sectionals are here this year so at least we got home field advantage. I say we put in a solid four hours on our off days and a good hour at least after Cheerios and football. Weekends we gotta practice too, at least five hours one day. We've got less than two weeks 'cause Sectionals are the Saturday after this one."
Rachel nodded slowly, "It's going to be hard work," She agreed quietly. "If anyone needs help with their homework, you can call me and I'll try to help."
"You're not in half of our classes," Kurt sniffed, and Puck rolled his eyes, the kid was still not won over in spite of being given a solo. "How could you help us with homework?"
Puck turned and looked at the kid, "You know she's tested out of half the classes here already or she's had them at her old school right?" Rachel smiled up at him and Puck tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "My girl's usually the smartest person in the room." He saw Rachel blush and smiled slightly, "She don't talk 'bout it is all."
"So you can tutor us in Spanish or history?" Blaine asked quietly. "I always see you in the library, normally when the rest of us are in class."
Puck was aware of Rachel's discomfort next to him and bent down to kiss her cheek, his murmur for her ears alone, "Sorry angel, they're a nosy bunch."
Rachel's hand squeezed his knee before she turned to look at Blaine, "I'm starting another language next semester but for now I have a free period instead of Spanish. I tested out of government so I have a free period three times a week and I use it for my Cheerios choreography or other schoolwork."
"Rae's got a photographic memory," Sam told the dark haired boy. "An' it don't take much for her to learn all the teacher's got. She's been testin' out of subjects ever since I've known her."
"Wait, you said…" Tina blinked and looked at Mike. Her boyfriend shrugged and Tina sighed and continued, "You said when your brother and sister visit or call, you and Rachel sing. And that you came to live with her…" The goth girl tilted her head thoughtfully, "Rachel's not the foster child is she? You are."
Puck chuckled and kissed Rachel's temple, "Told ya someone would figure it out Rae," He crowed with a grin.
"So why did Rachel lie then?" Mercedes shook her head in confusion and Puck snorted.
"Seriously? Why did Rachel lie?" Puck rolled his eyes, "Coach are we done for the day? Rae an' me an' Sam can go and print out music an' the arrangements Rae worked out for the numbers if we are."
"Give it a few minutes Puck," Mr. Schuester answered for Sue, something Puck could tell annoyed the coach but she simply gestured for him to stay seated. "Rachel I think we deserve an answer to Mercedes' question."
"You deserve an answer," Sam's voice as incredulous. "Are you kiddin' me?" Puck felt Rachel stiffen next to him and glanced at Sam. The blond kid was dark as a thundercloud, furious at Schuester's demands.
"Yeah Mr. Schue," Puck drawled, "Considerin' when Rae and Sam said they were foster sibs, Santana an' Quinn jumped to the conclusion that Rae had to be the foster kid 'cause they thought she was a loser. An' you did precisely nothin' to shut 'em up about it. Half the school think's Rae's a slut or a delinquent because of that."
"And Rachel did nothing to correct the assumption," Schuester retorted.
"Because Sam's got the same anger issues I do," Puck shot back. "An' their dads are still tryin' to get custody of his sibs. They can't afford to have Sam beat the crap outa you or any of the guys runnin' their mouths or they'll never get the rest of his family out here."
"Is that true Evans?" Coach Sue asked, her cool tones a calming contrast to Sam's fury.
"I…I got anger management problems," Sam admitted quietly. "I got problems period. Football helps, workouts and weights and just… hell anything to work it off. I haven't gotten in trouble yet this year. Rae let everybody assume the wrong thing so I wouldn't wreck everything our dads have worked for." He looked at the cheerleading Coach and shrugged, "Rae's been known to…roll right over me an' her dads when she's working towards a goal. She'll do just about anything to accomplish it, within, you know, reason. An' she wants the rest of her family."
"See Sam sang for us at the beginnin' of the year," Puck told the coach deliberately keeping his voice relaxed. "An' everybody knew he was good enough for Glee. But he told Schue flat out that he wouldn't join 'less we needed another warm body 'cause a how Schue let everybody treat Rachel. That's part a why Schue's got his panties in a wad now."
"I don't have my—" Schuester was interrupted by a laconic Sue.
"So everybody assumed wrong, Rachel let them believe it in pursuit of higher goals, and now you're all irritated with her because she never bothered to correct you," The Cheerios coach rolled her eyes. "If you all weren't so happy and quick in rushing to judgment you'd look a lot less stupid." Puck snorted with laughter and Sue speared him with a glance. "You three email me the music. I'll print it out here."
Puck grinned, "You got it Coach." He took a deep breath, "Rae an' me brought our laptops, could email it to you now. Maybe get some practice in today."
"Email it to me now, I'll print it and everybody can study it overnight," Sue nodded her agreement. "We meet here tomorrow after practice. Anyone who isn't in another extracurricular be here at the regular time and ready to rehearse as much as possible. Rachel, you are excused from Cheerios practice, I want you to teach everyone the warm ups and vocal exercises."
Puck tilted his head as he watched Rachel open her laptop, "Me an' Sam already got that down, Mike's the only guy on the team who ain't been schooled." He turned and looked at Mike, "When do you have a free period?"
Mike shook his head, "I don't," He told Puck with a sigh. "My dad is giving me a hard time about being in Glee. He's after me to quit and concentrate on my schoolwork. A free period would actually give me time to myself."
Rachel was busy typing and looked up triumphantly, "Check your office computer Coach, I also copied your phone." She tapped in something else and grinned up at Puck, "We're all set." She turned to look at Mike, "When do you get to school? You don't have early bird classes right?" Puck was aware of Coach Sue striding out of the room.
"No, I get here around seven so I can use the weights and shower before classes start," Mike told her. "I haven't even had time to take Tina out lately my dad's been crackin' down so hard."
"All right," Rachel nodded, "I'll meet you in the auditorium at lunch, anyone else who wants can meet us there too and we'll go over the warm ups and the breathing exercises."
"Mind if I come along?" Puck asked quietly, "Won't be our quiet lunch but the company'll still be nice."
"Love to have you there," Rachel nodded, her smile pleased that he'd asked.
"All right ladies and...well fellows," Sue re-entered the choir room with a sheaf of papers in her hand. "Everybody take a copy of each pile before you leave. I have your email addresses, Schuester has them too. I expect all of you to at least look over this music before tomorrow."
Puck stood and helped Rachel up from her chair, "C'mon an' I'll take you home angel." He looked down at her arms and knew she was probably hiding bruises, she'd been far too careful about leaning against him for her flesh to be unblemished.
"I'll see you there Rae," Sam told her with a smile. "I promised Britt I'd give her a ride home."
Puck grabbed his bag and Rachel's and watched as she got their copies of the music, "Baby, when we get home, you're gonna show me how bad he bruised you." He told Rachel quietly, "I ain't gonna kill him or hit him, but I need to know."
"Why?" Rachel obviously didn't understand and Puck sighed as they walked through the halls.
Waiting until they'd gotten to his truck and he'd closed the door behind him Puck looked at Rachel, "Because I gotta know how much a that is in him," He said keeping his voice level. "I gotta know how much hate he's carryin' around. If he put bruises on you, means he's gonna have issues, gotta make sure Coach knows so she can talk to him, work with him."
"All right," Rachel's voice was soft in his ear. "I just didn't want you to lose your temper. I don't think he realized what he'd done."
"He's a big guy, he's gotta know what he's capable of," Puck said explained. "It ain't ever occurred to him that he could hurt someone, 'cause he thinks he's a nice guy, that he's a good guy an' he don't hurt people."
She simply nodded her understanding and the ride to her house was quiet but for the radio. If that hadn't been semi-normal for the two of them Puck might have thought Rachel was annoyed with him, but they'd both found after stressful days the ride to her house was a good time to just enjoy some music and unwind.
Author's Note: So Finn suspended and now Mr. Schue has to deal with Sue breathing down his neck during rehearsals. That seemed fair to me. I'm not totally sure where this whole thing is going yet. I'm aiming for a happy ending of course, because that's my thing, but getting there...yeah I'm not sure.
But I hope you're all enjoying the ride. Its certainly fun to write these two. I don't have plans for any other couples in this story, Sam hasn't fallen in love with anyone of either gender yet and shows no signs of doing so. But high school is a confusing time and more so if you're unsure or confused about your sexuality so I'm probably going to leave his affections very vague as to what or who he wants, because he really hasn't figured it out himself yet.
I will tell you folks that if I make a decision about something regarding this story, I'm not going to change it just because someone reviews or PM's me and says they don't like it. If Sam falls for Blaine for instance, then that's what's happening in my story. I write because I like writing not to please a crowd and whining about how you don't agree with me is not going to help one bit.
That being said I don't believe in jamming to characters together just for the sake of seeing if I can do it. It has to be reasonable in my mind. It has to fit in with the character somehow in some way or its just bad writing. Like putting Tina and Brittany together. Or Artie with Rachel. I don't see any way those people mesh. And if I can't picture it in my head then it won't be happening.